My fat dog

Me beagle is a real porker too.  He slims down somewhat in the winter because he walks more, but in the summer during the heat he's a real couch potato. 

Deb W.

 I would also switch to a higher quality food - a grain free one would be best.  You can find a good food on this site:

 http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

 Taste of the Wild is a good one to use.

 Then with the food you use, be sure to measure don't guess the amount and then remove 15 pieces.   

Also change treats to grain free or use: raw sweet potato, apple, green beans. 

Just like with people, you have to reduce calories while increasing exercise.  Without knowing the kcals of what you're feeding now you won't be able to pick a better food with less calories.  I looked around a little on the net but couldn't find Ol Roy kcals listed anywhere.   You might have to try calling WalMart corporate office to find out.  Good luck with that.   Many of the premium, grain free foods are very high in calories but most of them do list the kcals on the bag or on their websites.  As someone else said, watch treats and measure the kibble carefully. 

 My vet tells me this story every time we talk about overweight dogs.  A client swore to the vet that she was only feeding one cup a day.  Turns out the "cup" was one of those giant 48oz drink cups. lol

Everyone has said it well here.  The problem with Ol'Roy is that it's loaded with carbs.  Carbs raise insulin levels in the body which tells the body to store fat. 

So I agree, something grain free like taste of the wild, no more than a cup a day and a good walk every day should bring it down.  If not, a thyroid check is in order as well.

Good luck :)

I would start with a trip to a vet to get things under control from the very beguining.  The vet can examin the dog, tell you what needs to be done, do bloodwork and such.

Also keep in mind that better quality foods are more compact in nutrition and the amounts you feed will be less than cheeper foods.  The higher quality foods may cost more but in the long run the price will even out because you are feeding less. Look at the ingredients when buying food. Ol Roy is mostly corn, why would you want to feed your dog chiken scratch?

I have to watch out for my beardie's weight.  He's a much larger dog but he gains weight fast.  He came to me on a weight management food but we are switching over to something better.  It's all about the proportions. I keep a measuring cup with his food and use it.  On training days I skip his meal altogether and he gets the same amount in treat portions.  You couldn't tell under all his shagg but he is a little chunky.  

Jewlieee

All good advice here. My 50 lb dogs get less than 2 cups of food per day. Switching to a food with less carbs might help you little guy. Also, watch the treats. The only time my dogs get treats are when we are doing some training. Then they only get very tiny morsels. Cut out the biscuits and table scraps. Also, cut down on the rawhides/bones if you give those. My middle dog packs on the pounds if I let her chew too many bones. Now they each get 1 6" very small/skinny retriever roll every few days. Thats about the size of a rawhide chip, just rolled up. (Keep in mind, many people here discourage giving rawhides at all. I have never had a problem with choking).

I agree totally with this.  I saw it work, my Mother's 14 year old Papillion was FAT from eating horribly (people food) and not getting walked for quite some time when my Dad became ill then passed.  Once we got my Mom and her moved into assisted living we found a grain free food she would eat, and could eat with her bad teeth, which was Fromm canned food, and she has lost down to a very healthy weight and is much more active.  My Mother started walking her again as well, which was the exercise part necessary for her transformation.  She went from looking like a furry football with big ears to being a firm feeling little thing when you hold her.

I completely agree with what everyone else has said here.  My two dachshunds are on EVO (at the moment, I'm switching them to Cal Nat Salmon and Lentils when my feed store finally gets it in) and they only get 1/4 cup each twice per day, that's only 1/2 cup total per day per dog (they are 15 and 17 lbs, and the 17 lber is a little on the chunky side). 

 Also, don't free feed because beagles will eat until they explode.  Measure it out like Gina said with a measuring cup. 

If she gobbles her food really fast and you want to make her "work" for it a little more try feeding her from one of those brain teaser treat balls.  My dogs run all over the room chasing it and catching the food that falls out.  It keeps them occupied for a while and engages their brains and makes them move around just a little bit more.

 Good luck!